Typewriting machine



Nov. 1, 1927.

C. E. SMITH TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed April 6. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l awoomtoz 35 & flbtow d Z 7% WW.

Nov 1, 1927.

C. E. SMITH 'TYPEWRITI'NG MACHINE Filed April 6 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I i. l x l n 1 I I v l l l I l Smvemtoz WITNE 55E 5 J/JZM 27%. mm.

Patented Nov. 1, 1927..

UNITED STATS CHARLES E. SIEITH, O17 BRQOKLYN, NEE-1V YORK, AS$IGNOR Ti) REMINGTON TYPE WRITER COMPANY, OF ILIOBT, NEW YORK, A CORIEOBATION 03E NEV] YORK.

TYPEW'RITING MACHINE.

Application filed April 6,

My invention relates to typewriting and like machines and more particularly to socalled portable machines intended to be inclosed and transported in a carrying case. v

The main object of my invention, generally stated, is to insure a proper conditioning of a portable machine for transportation.

in such machines it is highly desirable to rcleasthe carriage from restraint of its escapcment or feed device before the mach ne is inclosed in its carrying case, and to maintain the carriage thus released until the case is again opened preparatory to using the machine, when it is desirable tore-establish the connections by which the carriage 1s restrained by its feed mechanism. This is in order that the weight of or jolts from the carriage, while the machine is being transported or carried in its case, may not be exerted on the carriage feed devices and which, it so exerted, might result in injuring or breaking said devices.

By my present invention 1 provide improved means for overcoming this difficulty by automatically freeing the carriage from control of its escapement devices when the case is closed, and for automatically re-cstablishing such control when the case is opened.

This is one of the factors that enters into consideration in conditioning the machine for transportation, and which is taken care of by my invention. Other such factors will be hereinafter referred to.

To the above and other ends which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the features of construction, arrangements of parts and combinations of devices, set forth in the following description and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the different views,

Figure l is a detail fragmentary vertical ioreend-aft sectional view showing the rear portion of a machine contained within its carrying case and properly conditioned for transportation; the section being taken on the line 11 in Fig. 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows at said line.

Figure 2 is a like view of the same with the cover of the case removed and the machine shown in condition for use.

l ipure 3 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view of the case showing the 1922. Serial No. 550,045.

machine contained therein and viewed from the rear.

F igure 3 is detail fragmentary perspective view of the carriage releasing contact on the cover and some of the associated parts.

Figure 1- is a detail horizontal sectional view of the carriage and its support, the section being taken on the line 44 of F ig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows at said line.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the carriage locking members shown detached.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view showing the finger wheel and somev of the associated parts, the section being taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 and looking; in the direction of the arrows at said line.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the carrying case inclosing the machine.

F igure 8 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view showing parts of another form of carriage lock. the section being taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows at said line.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary end View of the carriage and some of the companion parts, the view illustrating the form of carriag'e lock shown in part in Fig. 8.

I have shown my invention in the present instance embodied in a Remington portable machine, many of the features of which are shown in the following patents and pending applications v 7 A. N. Smith, Pt. No. 1,342,513, dated June 8, 1920; J. B. Holden, Pt. No. 1,386,256, dated Aug. 2, 1921; J. B. Holden, App. Sr. No. 469,458, filed May 14,1921; J. B. Holden, App. Sr. No. 541,355, filed Mob. 6, 1922; J. B. Holden, App. Sr. No. 5441128, filed Mch. 27, 1922; G. A. Seib, App. Sr. No. 529,415, filed Jan. 16, 1922. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not restricted to embodiment in a machine of this style. 7

From certain aspects of my invention it is in the nature of improvements on the con struction disclosed in the above mentioned Holden application, Sr. No. 547,128.

The Remington portable machine is provided with a carrying case, the cover of which can be closed only when collapsible parts of the machine are moved to compact til) relation with the remainder of the machine and when the carriage is properly centered on its support, as pointed out in the above mentioned application, Sr. No. 547,128. In said application, means also are disclosed for locking the carriage in a centrally disposed position on the machine in order that the cover of the case may be closed, and the feed rack is moved to releasing position by hand and is maintained in such position by a separately actuated collapsible part of the machine, such as the finger wheel of the platen. By my present invention I provide improved means for locking the carriage in its centered position which must necessarily be actuated before the case can be closed, and also provide automatically operating means for releasing the carriage.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown only so much of the Remington portable machine as is necessary to arrive at an understanding of my invention in its embodiment therein.

The outer sheet metal frame 1 of the machine contains an inner sheet metal frame 2 by which various working parts of the machine are supported. Among such parts is a carriage supporting case shift frame, such as is illustrated in the above mentioned Patent, No. 1,386,256. This case shift frame comprises a carriage support 3 pivoted at 4 on upright arms 5 secured to a rock shaft 6 pivoted at its ends, as at 7, to the inner frame, so that the carriage support may receive a case shifting movement fore-and-aft of the machine.

The carriage support has two grooved guided-ails or plates 8 and 9 secured thereto. These guide-rails contain crossed bearing rollers 10 that are received in ways in the rails 8 and 9 and in companion grooved rails or ways 11 and 12 respectively formed in the bent edge portions of the main base plate 13 of the carriage. This plate has fixed thereto carriage end plates 14 and 15, and such end plates support a platen 16. The carriage is thus mounted to travel from side to side of the machine, and supports the platen in position to receive the impact of downwardly and rearwardly striking type bars (not shown) on the upper side thereof.

The step-by-step feed movement of the carriage is controlled by escapement mechanism comprising, in the present instance, feed dogs 17 and 18 carried by a key controlled dog rocker and engaging teeth 19 of a feed rack 19. The feed rack is carried by a sheet metal plate 20 which has upwardly and forwardly bent arms 21 and 22. The arm 21 is bent at its free end portion to form a pivot bearing 23 that receives a pivot rod 24, such rod being supported in bearings 25 of a bracket which is secured to the base plate 13 of the carriage. The arm 22 is secured by a screw 26 to a block 27, apertured to receive a pivot rod 28, such rod being supported in bearings 29 of a bracket plate 30, secured by screws 31 to the base plate 13 of the carriage. Coiled springs 32 surround the pivots 24 and 28 and each bears at one end 33 on the associated bracket plate, and at its other end 34 against the plate 20 and normally holds the feed rack in its effective or engaging position, shown in full lines in Fig. 2. The rack is limited in its movement in this direction by the arms 21 and 22 bearing against the rear ends of two screw stops 35 and 36 respectively, threaded into tapped openings in the bent edge portion 12 of the carriage base plate. Fixed at 37 to the left-hand end of the plate 20, is an upwardly and rearwardly extending feed rack release arm 38, which terminates in a finger piece 39. A forward movement of the finger piece 39, from the full to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, is effective to disengage the feed rack from the normally engaged feed dog 18, and thus free the carriage from the restraint of its escapement mechanism. The forward movement of the arm 38 to releasing position is limited by a laterally projecting lug 40 (see Fig. 3), that coacts with a stop 41 formed on the rear edge of the end plate 15, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

One of the collapsing parts of the Remington portable machine is the finger wheel 42, which is movable from the dotted line position of use, to the full line compact position shown in Fig. 3, as pointed out in the hereinbefore mentioned application, Sr. No. 547 128. Referring particularly to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the finger wheel 42 is fixed by a screw 43 to a spindle or platen shaft 44 which is movable longitudinally in the right-hand platen head 45; a spline 46 on the latter extending into a spline groove 47 in the spindle. A pin 48 on the spindle coacts with the spline 46 to limit the outward movement of the spindle and finger wheel, as shown. A flanged bearing sleeve 49 surrounds the spindle 44 and is supported in an opening in the right-hand end plate 14 of the carriage. The bearing sleeve 49 is held in place in the opening in the end plate 14 by a washer 50 riveted to the sleeve. The lefthand end portion of the platen spindle is supported in a corresponding flanged bearing sleeve 51 fixed in an opening in the left-hand end plate 15. In this manner the platen is mounted in the platen carrier or carriage, and the finger wheel 42 is connected to turn with the platen but may be moved longitudinally thereof from the full to the dotted line position in Fig. 3, or vice versa.

The sleeve 51 has a laterally extending slot 52 cut therein to a. point where it crosses the bore 53 in the sleeve. A sheet metal member or finger 54 is received in the slot 52, and has a movement therein transversely of the spindle 44 from the position shown in 3, the left-hand coneike end of the spindle,

indit ed at li in sai heme and in Fig. 6, is p: -t1oned to the right of the lateral slot The pointed end sel is in the nature of a cam which coacts with a rounded edge 5d of the member and shitts it from the Fig. 2 to the Fig. l position when the finger wheel is moved to the compact 01' full line position shown in Fig. During the last portion of the movement of the iii'ifg'er wheel to this position the cylindrical portion of the spin-ado will be brought into co-operation with the finger 54:, and prevents the latter from returning to the F 2 position so long as the lingg er wheel remains in the pushed in or compact position.

In the present instance the linger 54- constitutes part of a sheet metal controlling member designated a whole by the re ierence numeral its will be seen upon reference to F t, this member is pivoted on the shank of an interiorly threadeth headed screw stewed onto a shoulder screw 57 that passes through an opening in the end plate 15. A spring 59 is wound aronnd a pin 00 projecting from the outer face of the end plate 15. and it anchored one end, as at (31, whci' the tree end til ot the spring bears against an arm 58 on the member 55. The tore;- oif this spring is exerted to rot an the controlling member to the 2 position when it is freed from restraint of the spindle it by moving the linger wheel to the dotted line position in Fig. The free end of the linger 54; coacting with the bottom wall of the slot 52 limits the movement of the member in this direction.

'lhe controlling member also car ice. a locking" linger or device "(32 which constr tutes one member of a lock tor locking the carriage in a centralized position on its support 3, shown in and 'lhis linger register w th a slot in the base plate 1 of the ca :i go and is adapted, at any point in the travel of the carriage, to be moved through said slot from the inejtl'ictive position shown in Fig. 2, to the ell'ective position shown in Fig. 1. In this last mentioned position the lower edge por tion he locking l nger (32 extends into coopersti e relation with the companion loci:- ing member carried by the carriage support ll at this time the carriag be moved in either direction of its travel M nn an oil'- ccntered POSLLJTOJ the l'cliing members will (1 act when the carriage reaches the :entrel V d position on its support,- and will auto mat-ically lock the carriage against movement from such position in eith r direction. The companion locking inei'nber on the sup port 3 is shown detached in 5, and in the present instance comprises a strip of spring metal (52 1" tened by a headed screw (34.- to the under sine ot the support 8; the stem of the screw passing through an opening (55 in the locking member. From one edge of the strip 63 bent an upwardly extending detent- (36 having a slot or recess (37 therein, The upper edge of the detent is beveled outwardly and downwardly in opposite directions from the side walls of the recess 67, as indiated t C8. The detent (56 projects up through a slot (59 in the left-hand end portion of the support 23, so that the beveled edge portions (58 of tee detent extend above the "upper side. of the member 3, and are normally maintained in such position by the inherent resiliency, or spring pressure, off the strip 63. The construction is such that when the locking linger 62 is in the eilective position and the carriage is moved in either direction towards a centralized position, it will bring the lower edge of the finger {52 against one or the other of the two bevels 68 and Hex the detent downward. lVhen the centralized position, shown in Fig. 3, is reached the reces 67 will register with the finger (i2 and the detent 66 will spring upward so as to engage the locking finger on both sides by the. side walls of the recess 67, and thus prevent a movement of the carr 'e in either direction. When, however, the member is moved to the Fig. 2 position the ti o'er to will be withdrawn from the recess 67 to free said finger from the detent, and the p th. of movement of the linger with the ca age is clear of the de tent. The car-ring is there ore tree to be moved in either direction of its travel, so tar as the centralized locking means are concerned.

The carrying case of the Ren'iington portable machine comprises a baseboard 70, to which the machine is attached by means such as are disclosed in the above mentioned applicatiom No. 469,458, but which need 0t be described herein. A cover T1 with its fixed rear wall 72, side walls 73, front wall Fl, and top wall 753 is detachable from the base-board, and may be swung downwardly and forwardly into closed position around the machine on the pivot orojections To on the baseboard. By Inch movement the cover brings the rubber blocks or contacts 7T thereon into engagement with the carriage, disclosed in the above mentioned application, Sr. No. 541355.

From an inspection of Fig. 3 it will be understood that when the linger wheel 42 is in the expanded or ootted line posit-ion, the cover cannot be closed since the wheel &2 stands in the path of the cover and prevents it from closing. At this time the member 55 is held by its spring 59 in the position shown in Fig. 2; with the locking member 62 withdrawn to ineffective position and the feed rack 19 normally engaging the dog 18. This is the condition of the machine for use, and from what has been said above it will be understood that this condition of the. machine must be changed before it can be inclosed within its carrying case. One such change of condition is to move the finger wheel 4-2 to the full line position in Fig. 3. This movement of the wheel isefi'ective, through the movement of the cam 4st, to shift the controlling member and project the spindle 4st in the path of the finger 5 1, thereby holding the member against return movement from the Fig. 1 position, to which it has been shifted by the cam 4 1. The described shifting of the member 55 to the Fig. 1 position results in moving the locking member (52 to effective position. The operator may then actuate the finger piece 39 to free the feed rack 19 from the normally engaged dog 18, and move the carriage from an off-centered position either to right or left until the carriage reaches a centered position on its support, when the member 62 will be automatically engaged by the detent (36 and lock the carriage against movement either to the right or left from said position.

So far as the construction under consideration is concerned, the machine is now in condition to be inclosed within its case and the cover may be closed without further obstruction therefrom. However, the finger piece 39 having been released by the operator the feed rack engages the dog 18 notwithstanding the carriage centering lock is now effective. In order that the carriage may be freed from the restraint of its escapement mechanism without further thought by the operator, I have provided automatically operating means whereby the act of closing the cover is effective to release the carriage from control of the escapement. Thus, I provide an actuating device or contact 78 which may be secured to the back wall 72 of the cover by the same screws 7 9 by which the left-hand rubber block 77 is secured to the cover. The contact device 78 may be of any suitable character, but as shown comprises a strip of sheet metal formed with a base-piece 80 seated on the back wall 72 of the cover beneath the companion block 77, and apertured to receive the screws 79 which secure the latter in place. The forward contact face of the device 78 is arranged above the companion block 77 near the lefthand wall 73 of the cover, and in such position that when the carriage is locked in its centered position and the cover is swung forward and down to the closed position shown in Fig. 1, said contact face will register and coact with the carriage release key 39, or any suitable extension on the member 38, and move said member forward from the full to the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 2, and as indicated in Fig. 1. This is effective to release the feed rack 19 from the normally engaged dog 18, and free the carriage from the restraint of its escapcment mechanism. The carriage at this time being held by its lock in the centered position cannot, of course, move from said position nohvithstanding the fact that it is no longer under control of its escapement. Any shocks or jolts to which the case and inclosed machine may be subjected will be resisted by the carriage lock, and will not be imparted to the escapement mechanism. The parts will remain in this condition until the machine is again to be placed in condition for use. The act of swinging back the cover is effective to withdraw the contact 78 from co-operation with the finger piece 39, thereby permitting the feed rack to be automatically swung forward by its springs 32 to re-engage the feed dog 18. The finger wheel 42 may then be moved out of compact relationship to the dotted line position in Fig. 3, thereby permitting the controlling member 55 to move from the Fig. 1 to the Fig. 2 position, and effect a release of the carriage look by withdrawing the locking member 62 to ineffective position. The machine is now ready for use.

The force of the spring 59, acting through the finger 54 on the cam 44, is suflicient to prevent an accidental displacement of the finger wheel 42 from the expanded to the compact position while the machine is in use, and yet enable the finger wheel to be shifted to such compact position when suflicient force is exerted thereon to overcome the resistance of the spring 59.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have illustrated another form of means for controlling the carriage lock, resembling. in certain of its features the construction employed in the Remington portable machine and disclosed in the above mentioned application, Sr. No. 547,- 128. The parts corresponding to those hereinbefore described will be indicated by the same reference characters previously used.

In this modified form of construction the controlling member 81 is mounted in the same manner as the member and is provided with an outwardly projecting finger piece 82, by which it may be manipulated at will to move the locking member 83 from an ineffective to an effective position. A locking finger 8-1 on the part 81, in the position shown. extends across the bore and in the path of a fiat end 85 of the spindle i l, thereby locking the spindle against longitudinal movement to the left and preventing the finger wheel from being moved to the compact position. hen, however. the member 81 is turned by its finger piece 82 against the force of its spring 86 to bring the locking member 83 into effective position, the locking finger 8% will be moved out of the path ill Leavers of the spindle 44, and the finger wheel 42 n'iay then be moved to compact position. This movement of the finger wheel is effective to bring the spindle ts in the path of the finger S l, thereby holding the member 81 in the position to which it has been moved by the finger piece 82 so long as the linger wheel li, remains in the compact positin. llowever, a movement of the linger a c. 30111 this position is effective to withthereby freeing the latter and perthe spring 86 to return the member iiosition shown in Fig. 9, and

' -.se the arriage lock.

.t ol 01"" the member 81 by the fin- 8 has no ellect on the carriage release in this construction; the operation or the latter be n independently and auto matically eliecre-d by closing the cover, as in the previously described construction.

in the Remington portable machine the receives a rearward bodily case shitting movement, and when inadvertently leiit locked in such position prevents the cover from closing. in order that there may be no danger in such circumstances of bending or injuring the release arm 38 by the contact Y8 on the cover, it prefer to employ the means disclosed in my application, clr. No. 538,267, tiled Feb. 21, 1922, for automatically releasing the case shift lock be fore the cover can be closed on the machine. l l ith the use of such means the carriage cannot be maintained in the rearmost case position, when the machine is otherwise conditioned for transportation, a d no injury to the release arm 38 can result when closing the cover.

From certain aspects of my invention, and so far the automatic release of the carriage by the cover is concerned, any suitable carriage locking or retaining means may be eniployed. For example, the carriage lockinp; member may be constructed and controlled as represented in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, or as represented in Figs. 8 and 9.

By my invention 1 have provided simple means that not only automatically ctiect the release of the carriage from restraint of its escapement before the machine can be inclosed in its case, but also compel the proper centering and locking" of the carriage by the members 62 and 66 before such a result can be obtained. 1 therefore insure a. proper conditioning of the machine before it can be inclosed in its case for transportation, and prevent injury to the parts of the machine that might result except for such proper conditioning.

On January 11, 1923 l filed a division of the present application and electto prosecute therein generic claims that cover features of the construction disclosed herein; the claims of the present application being a co] ger piece carri 7 in a centralized position on the machine, carriage releasing means tor freeing the carriage from re traint of its food mech anism, a part shittabie independently of said locking means, and means actuated thereby for auton'n it y actuating the carriage releasing means and holding it released after the carriage has been locked in centralized position by said locking means.

2. The combination of a carriage of a typewritimr or like machine, carriage feed mechanism therefor, means for locking the (:2 rriage in a centralized position on the n1a chine, independently operable carriage rclcasing means for freeing; the carriage from control of its feed mechanism, and an inclosing lor'the machine including a cover adapted to be closed only when the carriage is maintained in a centralized posi tion on the machine, the movement of said cover controlling said carriage releasing means.

The combination of a carriage of :1 typewriting or like machine, teed mechanism therefor, hand-controlled locking means operable at wil and by which the carriage may be locked in a centralized position on the machine, carriage releasing means for freeing the carriage from restraint of its teed mechanism, a part shiftable independently 01 said locirinp; means, and means con trolled thereby for automatically freeing the carriage from rest aint of its feed mechanism and holding); it free therefrom.

The combination of a carriage a typewritingr or like machine, feed mechzv nism therefor, hand-controlled locking means rendered operative at will for loclrinr; the carriage in a centralized position on the machine and against travelling movement thereon either to right or left, means for holding said locking means indefinitely in operative condition, carriage releasing means for freeing the carriage from restraint of its feed mechanism, an inclosing case that cannot be closed when the carriage is not maintained centraiaed on the machine, and means whereby the carriage releasing means are actuated by the act of closing said case.

The combination of a carriage of a typewriting or like machine, separable carriage teed devices, hand actuated means operable at will for separating said devices and releasing the carriage from the rest 'aint of its feed mechanism, independent hand controlled means operable at Will for locking the carriage against movement to either right or left from a centralized position on the machine, and a part movable independently of said locking means, and means controlled thereby for automatically actuating said carriage releasing means While the carriage is locked in said position and before the machine can be inclosed within its inclosing case.

(3. A collapsible typewriting or like machine having a carriage, carriage feed mechanism, means for locking the carriage in a centralized position on the machine, combined with means independent of any collapsible part of the machine and of said locking means for assuring the release of the carriage from restraint of its feed mechanism during the act of inclosing the machine in its case.

7. A collapsible t-ypewriting or like machine having a carriage, carriage feed mechanism including a releasing device, means for locking the carriage in a centralized position on the machine, and an inclosing case provided with means cooperating with said releasing device for effecting a release of the carriage from restraint of its feed mechanism after the carriage has been locked in a centralized position by said locking means.

Signed at the borough of Manhattan, city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 5th day, of April, A. D. 1922.

CHARLES E. SMITH. 

